4-H offers lots of opportunities

The 2013 4-H year has begun! Anyone from 5 to 18 may join 4-H, whose clubs offer participants an opportunity to meet once per month to learn a variety of skills in a safe environment. Older 4-H members have a large role in running their clubs; they lead the club meetings, and work with club members to determine and plan the activities and community service projects that the club will lead.

In addition to 4-H clubs, 4-H also offers three camping programs: a summer camp, an overnight camp and a weekend winter camp. These camps are some of the most affordable, high quality camping programs around. Campers spend their days participating in a variety of workshops, games and specialty programs. Registration for the winter camp will be available in January, with the summer camp registration beginning Feb. 1.

Special trips and activities are also offered. Last year, the Rappahannock/Culpeper 4-H Community Club offered a Jingle Bell 5K run in Little Washington and a trip to Richmond on a chartered bus for 4-H State Capitol Day in February. Forty-eight people went to Richmond and were able to meet with state representatives and tour the capitol before visiting the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. These two programs will be offered again this year, as well as a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the Science and Engineering festival in April.

If you are interested in offering a workshop, leading a 4-H club, getting involved in 4-H, registering your child or simply learning more, please contact 4-H Coordinator Jenny Kapsa at the Extension office at 540-675-3619.

The 2013 4-H clubs

The Amissville Community Club (ages 9-18) meets at 6 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church in Amissville. Kids in this club do a variety of things; there is no specific focus. They may make a craft, try a new recipe or play games – the possibilities are endless. Jennifer Gray, fondly known as “Mama G,” has led this 4-H club for more than 20 years.

The 4-H Cloverbud Club (ages 5-8) meets from 3:30 to 5 the second Monday of each month at the RCES cafeteria. The first Cloverbud meeting is Oct. 8. Jill Atkins and her sister Jenny Snead are the leaders of this popular 4-H club. Kids will enjoy participating in many activities that include cooking, crafts, singing songs and playing games.

4-H Crafts with a Cause (ages 5-18) meets from 3:30 to 5 the first Monday of each month at the RCES cafeteria. Participants will make two crafts at a time; one for them to keep and the other to donate to a charity or to sell at the Christmas bazaar. Vickie Miller, Tami Ruggerio and Rebekka Korte are the leaders of this 4-H club .

The Junior Master Gardeners Club (4th-7th graders) meets from 4 to 5:30 twice a month at the Mountain Laurel Montessori School in Flint Hill. The next meeting is Oct. 12. Bus #26 will take children from the RCES to Mountain Laurel. A note of permission to ride the bus is required from parents. Club members will participate in activities that will lead them to become certified Junior Master Gardeners. Activities will be led by certified Master Gardeners Jen Rattigan (who leads the Farm to Table program) and Mark Cuppett, who is a teacher and the farm manager at Mountain Laurel Montessori.

The 4-H Rappahannock/Culpeper Community Club (ages 13-18) meets at the Extension office. Club members will focus on making a real difference in their community by being aware of the needs of community members and doing what they can to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Last year, club members held a 5K run/walk and organized a 4-H trip to the state capitol that nearly all RCES seventh-graders attended. Meeting times are TBD.

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